Quick Take:
How could residents rebuilding from the CZU fire share tools? The answer is the Community Tool Shed, which opens Saturday in Boulder Creek after an overwhelming response from local volunteers, businesses and organizations.
“You’re not alone. There’s an entire community that cares.”
That’s the idea behind the Community Tool Shed in Boulder Creek, a library-like lending resource that will celebrate its grand opening Saturday.
The tools and equipment are available at no charge to residents rebuilding homes in the wake of the CZU Lightning Complex fire, donated by local businesses and organizations. The shed is the brainchild of Dawn Roh, president of the nonprofit High Council Foundation, and Hallie Greene, manager of the Boulder Creek Rec and Park District, who lost her home in last year’s blaze and wondered “if there was a way that we could share tools.”
With general contractor Nate Hart on board, Roh and Greene went looking for help filling the shed, and found a more than receptive audience.
“People just said yes,” Roh said. “People from all over were eager to lend a hand. It’s a clear testament to the caliber of the community. It’s important for people to know that you are not alone. There is an entire community that cares.”
From there, it was full speed ahead on the project at 15685 Forest Hill Dr. in Boulder Creek.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY TOOL SHED
Where: 15685 Forest Hill Dr., at the Bear Creek Community Center in Boulder Creek.
Grand opening: Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tool check-out: Fridays.
More information: Visit https://www.bcrpd.org or https://www.santacruzboutique.com/about; to donate or to volunteer, email info@highcouncilfoundation.com or call 831-600-8426.
“There has been a lot of interest,” said Kelly Pruden of the Boulder Creek Rec and Park District. “We have tools from shovels, rakes and tree trimmers to log splitters, cement mixers and more. There have been whole communities that have had to band together to buy these types of equipment, but us having these items for these people to use for free helps them greatly.”
More than 80 organizations have donated materials, tools and skilled labor to the project, which now has three shipping containers’ worth of new and used equipment available to anyone who can show proof of a parcel lost in the CZU fire.
“We have a multitude of volunteers that have spent so much time building this beautiful shed, laying the cement and more,” Roh said. “We currently have over $100,000 worth of materials, equipment, skilled labor and tools donated. It’s truly been amazing.”
“Saturday is a dedication to the fire victims of the CZU Lightning Complex fire,” Roh said. “Even the wood used is from trees damaged during the fire. The roots of a redwood forest support each other. Our community is just like these roots: Alone we survive, together we thrive.”